Method and system for integrated satellite assistance services

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a controller to process a travel assistance request for communication through a satellite and terrestrial mobile communication network. Data related to multiple assistance providers can be received in response to the request. At least one criterion can be processed for the assistance providers based on, for example, historical trip data. The assistance providers can be graphically represented for user selection based on the criterion. Data related to a selected assistance provider can be displayed, including navigation data to and/or from the assistance provider. In another embodiment, the travel assistance request can be communicated to a service center through the network. The service center can communicate data related to an assistance provider, including navigation data to and/or from the assistance provider. A rating of the assistance provider can be communicated to a specified community-of-interest through the network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. patent application entitled “Methodand System for Using Routine Driving Information In Mobile InteractiveSatellite Services”, filed concurrently herewith, having attorney docketnumber ICOG-001/00US. The above-identified U.S. patent application ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to travel assistance and moreparticularly to devices providing interactive travel assistance servicesand methods for using such devices.

A hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication system, such as aMobile Satellite Services (MSS) system with an Ancillary TerrestrialComponent (ATC), for example, can provide a more efficient spectrumutilization and a more effective coverage in rural and urban areas thancan be provided by stand-alone mobile satellite systems. For thatreason, existing MSS/ATC systems have been typically used to providevoice communication with wide geographic coverage. Using existingMSS/ATC systems to make available other types of services, however,poses many implementation challenges. For instance, to support mobileinteractive services, an MSS/ATC system design may need to effectivelyhandle multicast transmissions across both satellite networks andancillary terrestrial networks along with interactive communicationswith individual users. When properly designed, an MSS/ATC system cansupport one or more mobile interactive services, including travelassistance services, for example.

In a typical travel or roadside assistant service, a request is madefrom a vehicle to a service center through a cellular network. Theservice center can dispatch, automatically and/or through a liveoperator, for example, a service vehicle to where the person making therequest is located. These types of services are limited, however, sinceuser preferences are not generally part of the criteria used in theservice center's selection of the service provider. For example, theservice center may dispatch a service provider because it is the closestone to the requester, but it is one with whom the requester has had abad experience in the past. In many instances restrictions in the scopeof travel assistant services provided can result from the system and/orthe network supporting those services.

Thus, a need exists for interactive services and/or devices that usesatellite and terrestrial communication systems to offer users a widegeographic coverage along with a more flexible, effective, and/orfeature-rich travel assistance experience.

SUMMARY

An apparatus may include a controller to process a travel assistancerequest for communication through a satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunication network. Data related to multiple assistance providers canbe received in response to the request. At least one criterion can beprocessed for the service assistance based on, for example, historicaltrip data. The assistance providers can be graphically represented foruser selection based on the criterion. Data related to a selectedassistance provider can be displayed, including navigation data toand/or from the assistance provider. In another embodiment, the travelassistance request can be communicated to a service center through thenetwork. The service center can communicate data related to anassistance provider, including navigation data between the assistanceprovider and the user making the request. A rating of the assistanceprovider can be communicated to a specified community-of-interestthrough the network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a satellite and terrestrialmobile communication network, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 2-3 are block diagrams of a mobile interactive services system forsatellite and terrestrial communication, according to embodiments of theinvention.

FIGS. 4A-4B are front views of controllers and passenger devices for usewith a hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication network, accordingto embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a navigation map includingroutine trip data, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a schematic representation of a navigation map includingdefined areas, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a schematic representation of a navigation map includingdynamic areas, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of navigation data includinglocation of assistance request and of multiple assistance providers,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of navigation data related to themultiple assistance providers, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 9A is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaydata related to assistance providers, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 9B is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaynavigation data and other data related to a dispatched assistancevehicle from a selected assistance provider, according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 9C is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaynavigation data and other data related to a selected assistanceprovider, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10A is a front view of a controller that can graphically displayon-screen operations for contacting a service center, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10B is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaynavigation data and other data related to a dispatched assistancevehicle from an assistance provider offered by the service center,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10C is a front view of a controller that can graphically displayfeedback data provided to a community-of-interest related to theassistance provider, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 11-12 are flow charts illustrating a method according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The devices and methods described herein are generally related to mobileor in-vehicle interactive navigation services. For example, the devicesand methods are suitable for use in a hybrid satellite and terrestrial(satellite/terrestrial) communication system, such as a Mobile SatelliteServices (MSS) system with an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC). Anexample of such a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication system isdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/797,048 to Zufall et,al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. An MSS MSS/ATC system can use one or more satellites tosupport a wide geographic coverage of mobile satellite interactiveservices. For example, a portion of the 2 GHz spectrum allocated for MSSsatellite communications can be used to provide effective servicecoverage to rural and remote areas. Along with the MSS network, theland-based ATC network can facilitate service penetration in urban andsuburban areas through effective satellite and terrestrial frequencyreuse.

The mobile interactive satellite services described herein can be usedto provide interactive travel assistance services. A user can requesttravel assistance (e.g., vehicle repair assistance, medical careassistance, travel guidance assistance) through a mobile interactiveservices system. In one embodiment, data related to multiple assistanceservice providers (e.g., gas stations, auto repair shops, policestations, medical centers, clinics, hospitals) for a specifiedassistance category (e.g., auto repair providers, medical careproviders, public safety providers) can be received in response to therequest via a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network. Atleast one criterion can be processed for the assistance providers basedon, for example, historical trip data. In some instances, data relatedto each of the assistance providers can be graphically represented basedon the criterion to assist the user in the selection process. Navigationdata and/or other information to and/or from the selected assistanceprovider can be displayed to assist the user getting appropriateassistance.

In another embodiment, the travel assistance request can be communicatedto a service center through the hybrid satellite/terrestrialcommunication network. The service center can communicate data relatedto a specified assistance provider, including navigation data to and/orfrom the assistance provider and/or information related to a servicevehicle dispatched by the assistance provider. In some instances, theuser can provide ratings and/or reviews of the assistance provider thatcan be shared with a specified community-of-interest (COI) through thehybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network.

It is noted that, as used in this written description and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, theterm “a route segment” is intended to mean a single segment or acombination of segments. Similarly, the term “a destination area” isintended to mean, for example, a single destination area or more thanone destination areas.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of a satellite and terrestrialmobile communication network, according to an embodiment of theinvention. A hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network 100 canbe configured to provide mobile interactive satellite services, such asinteractive travel assistance services, for example. The hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network 100 can include a firstsatellite 110, terrestrial antennas 150, 152, and/or 154, a first groundstation 120, and a network 130. In some instances, the hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network 100 can have a secondsatellite 111 and/or a second ground station 121 to support other mobileinteractive satellite services, such as mobile video services thatprovide satellite television multicasting, for example.

The first satellite 110 can be configured to communicate with the firstground station 120 through one or more signals in a connection orcommunication path 170 that includes, for example, uplink signals anddownlink signals. The uplink signals can be used to communicateinformation or data from the first ground station 120 to the firstsatellite 110. The uplink-communicated information can include amulticast portion or component (e.g., video, music, traffic reports,radio) and/or an interactive component (e.g., navigation data, travelassistance data). The downlink signals can be used to communicate data,such as interactive data (e.g., requests for navigation services,requests for travel assistance services), from the first satellite 110to the first ground station 120.

The first ground station 120 can be configured to process at least aportion of the data or information related to an interactive servicethat can be supported by the hybrid satellite/terrestrial communicationnetwork 100. In this regard, the first ground station 120 can beconfigured to process multicast, interactive, and/or control data forcommunication with the first satellite 110. In one example, the firstground station 120 can generate ground-based beam-forming (GBBF)information that is communicated to the first satellite 110 via thecommunication path 170. The GBBF information can be used to configure atransmission antenna, such as an antenna array, for example, which canbe used by the first satellite 110 to generate an appropriate number ofbeam spots and beam spot locations, and/or appropriate beam spot shapesto effectively communicate with a mobile interactive services system,such as one that can be used in the vehicle 140, and/or with terrestrialantennas 150 and 152. The GBBF information can be dynamically modifiedto adjust communication operations, including spectrum bandwidth and/orgeographic coverage, for example, between the first satellite 110 andusers of mobile interactive satellite services. In emergency situations,such as during a natural disaster, for example, GBBF information can beprocessed in a manner such that priority in spectrum bandwidth and/orgeographic coverage can be given to affected areas.

The first satellite 110 can be configured to communicate with a mobileinteractive services system through one or more signals in a connectionor communication path 172. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the firstsatellite 110 can communicate with a mobile interactive services systemin the vehicle 140. The communication path 172 can include a downlinksignals through which the first satellite 110 can wirelessly transmitmulticast and/or interactive data to the mobile interactive servicessystem and an uplink signals to wirelessly transmit interactive datafrom the mobile interactive services system in the vehicle 140 to thefirst satellite 110. In this regard, a user can request data, such astravel assistance data, data related to a specific destination, and/ordata related to a destination or assistance category of interest, forexample, through one or more mobile interactive satellite servicessupported though the uplink signals in the communication path 172.Moreover, a mobile interactive services system can communicate with aservice provider (e.g., navigation service provider, travel assistanceservice provider, a travel assistance service center) through thedownlink and uplink signals in the communication path 172.

In some embodiments, the first satellite 110 can be configured tocommunicate with terrestrial antennas 150 and 152 using one or moresignals through communication paths 174 and 176, respectively. Forinstance, communication paths 174 and 176 can each include a downlinkpath from the first satellite 110 to the terrestrial antennas 150 and152, respectively. Each of the downlink paths can support multicastand/or interactive data communication to the terrestrial antenna. In oneexample, the terrestrial antenna 150 can be configured to furthercommunicate multicast and/or interactive data received from the firstsatellite 110 to a mobile interactive services system in the vehicle 140through a downlink path in a communication path 178. In the exampleshown in FIG. 1, however, terrestrial antenna 150 may not be configuredto receive interactive data from the mobile interactive services systemin the vehicle 140 (e.g., communication path 178 may not support uplinksignals to terrestrial antenna 150). In another example, terrestrialantenna 152 can be configured to further communicate multicast and/orinteractive data received from the first satellite 110 to a mobileinteractive services system in the vehicle 140 through a downlink pathin a communication path 182. Along with the downlink path, communicationpath 182 can have an uplink path that can support transmission ofsignals that include interactive data from the mobile interactiveservices system in the vehicle 140 to the terrestrial antenna 152.

The ground station 120 can be configured to communicate with terrestrialantennas 150, 152, and 154 through a network 130. In this regard,land-based communication of multicast and/or interactive data can occurthrough terrestrial antennas 150, 152, and 154. In the example shown inFIG. 1, terrestrial antennas 150, 152, and 154 can be configured tocommunicate multicast and/or interactive data via at least one ofcommunication paths 178, 182, and 180, respectively, with a mobileinteractive services system in the vehicle 140. Terrestrial antennas 152and 154, for example, can be configured for bi-directional communicationand can receive interactive data from the mobile interactive servicessystem in the vehicle 140 through uplink paths in communication paths182 and 180, respectively. Terrestrial antennas 152 and 154 can beconfigured to communicate interactive data received from the mobileinteractive services system in the vehicle 140 to the ground station 120through the network 130 for processing.

The network 130 can include at least a portion of, for example, a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), a packet-switched network, asatellite network, and/or a wireless network. The packet-switchednetwork can be a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network that cancarry different kinds of traffic such as Internet protocol (IP) packets,asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) frames, synchronous optical network(SONET) frames, and/or Ethernet frames, for example. The ground station120 can be configured to communicate with the network 130 through anetwork connection or communication path 162. Terrestrial antennas 150,152, and 154 can communicate with the network 130 through a networkconnection or communication path 160. Communication paths 160 and 162can include, in some instances, a broadband and/or long-haul opticalfiber connection.

Other embodiments of the hybrid satellite/terrestrial communicationnetwork 100 can include a number of ground stations, terrestrialantennas, and/or satellites that can be different from those of thedifferent embodiments described in FIG. 1. Moreover, other embodimentsof the hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network 100 cansupport multiple devices that like the mobile interactive servicessystem in the vehicle 140 can be configured to communicate with thefirst satellite 110 and with the terrestrial antennas 150, 152, and/or154. For example, handheld devices, laptops, and/or in-vehicle systemscan be configured to receive and/or transmit data related to mobileinteractive satellite services through an embodiment of the hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network 100.

FIGS. 2-3 are block diagrams of a mobile interactive services system forsatellite and terrestrial communication, according to embodiments of theinvention. FIG. 2 depicts a schematic representation of an mobileinteractive services system 200 that can be configured to provide mobileinteractive satellite services. In some instances, the mobileinteractive services system 200 can be an in-vehicle system (i.e., canoperate within and/or coupled to a vehicle, for example). The mobileinteractive services system 200 can include a controller module 210, amodem module 220, and/or a media server module 230. In some instances,the mobile interactive services system 200 can include one or morepassenger device modules 240 ₀, . . . , 240 _(N). The controller module210, the modem module 220, the media server module 230, and thepassenger device modules 240 ₀, . . . , 240 _(N) can be software-based(e.g., set of instructions executable at a processor, software code)and/or hardware-based (e.g., circuit system, processor,application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gatearray (FPGA)). In some embodiments, the mobile interactive servicessystem 200 can be configured to communicate with a vehicle communicationnetwork, such as, for example, a controller area network (CAN), anon-board diagnostics II (OBD-II), a media-oriented system transport(MOST), or other like vehicle communication networks.

The controller module 210 can be configured to process and/or displaydata such as data received from other modules or components of themobile interactive services system 200, data that is provided as inputfrom a user, and/or data received from a vehicle communication networkor bus. For instance, the controller module 210 can receive, process,and/or display multicast and/or interactive data that is received viathe modem module 220. In some instances, the controller module 210 canreceive, process, and/or display data (e.g., video, audio, navigation,and/or travel assistance data) stored in the media server module 230.The data processing provided by the controller module 210 can includeprocessing that supports mobile interactive satellite services such asmobile interactive travel assistance services, for example. Thecontroller module 210 can be configured to store data before, during,and/or after processing.

In some embodiments, the controller module 210 can be configured tocollect and/or process historical trip data from one or more previoustrips. In other embodiments, the controller module 210 can processhistorical trip data for transmission to a service provider or servicecenter that may further process the historical trip data to generate,for example, navigation and/or travel assistance data. The travelassistance data generated from the processed historical trip data can besubsequently received by the mobile interactive services system 200.Historical trip data can include, for example, departure time and/orlocation, arrival time and/or location, road or route segments traveled,travel time, travel distance, time of departure, and/or date (day, week,month, and/or year) of travel. In some embodiments, historical trip datacan include navigation data or guidance data that may have been receivedfrom a navigation service provider for consideration by a user during apreviously occurring trip.

An example of historical trip data processing can include determiningwhich trips are routine or regularly occurring trips. In one embodiment,routinely occurring trips can be determined by generating statisticalinformation which may be compared to specified thresholds to determinewhen a certain trip (e.g., weekday morning commute to work) occursroutinely. A road or route segment traveled during a routine trip can bereferred to as a routine route segment and a destination location ordestination area arrived to during a routine trip can be referred to asa routine destination location or a routine destination area,respectively, for example. In other embodiments, a user of the mobileinteractive services system 200 may indicate to the system that a tripis a routine trip.

The controller module 210 can be configured to communicate data to othercomponents of the mobile interactive services system 200. For example,the controller module 210 can communicate user input data, such asinteractive data, to the modem module 220. Moreover, the controllermodule 210 can be configured to control at least a portion of theoperation of other components of the mobile interactive services system200. The controller module 210 can control, for example, the providingof video, audio, and/or other data to the passenger device modules 240₀, . . . , 240 _(N).

The modem module 220 can be configured to communicate with a networksuch as the hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network 100described in FIG. 1. In this regard, the modem module 220 can supportmultiple wireless and/or satellite communication or networkingprotocols, including multiple cellular communication protocols, forexample. For mobile video services, for example, the modem module 220can support one or more satellite communication protocols, such asdigital video broadcasting satellite services to handhelds (DVB-SH) orDVB second generation (DVB-S2). The modem module 220 can communicatewith cellular networks such as global system for mobile communications(GSM) or code-division multiple access (CDMA) networks, for example.Moreover, the modem module 220 can be configured to support wirelessside-loading operations, such as content loading from a local areanetwork (LAN), through multiple wireless interfaces, including WiMaxIEEE 802.16 interface and/or WiFi IEEE 802.11 interface, for example.

The media server module 230 can be configured to store multimedia data(e.g., video, audio, navigation, and/or travel assistance data). Themultimedia data can be stored in, for example, integrated circuit (IC)memory, compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs), and other likemachine-readable storage medium. In some instances, the media servermodule 230 can receive multimedia data for storage from the modem module220. In this regard, the media server module 230 can operate as adigital video recorder (DVR), for example. In a DVR, multimedia data(e.g., current satellite video channel programming) can be received andstored while stored multimedia data (e.g., previously stored satellitevideo channel programming) can be accessed for further processing. Themedia server module 230 can communicate stored multimedia data to thecontroller module 210, which may process and/or display the multimediadata. For instance, the controller module 210 can display video data,audio data, instructional information, travel assistance information,navigation maps, guidance information, travel directions, informationrelated to specified destinations and/or destinations within destinationor assistance categories, personal and/or community ratings of places,and/or other information that may be stored in the media server module230. Moreover, the controller module 210 may communicate at least aportion of the multimedia data received from the media server module 230to one or more of the passenger device modules 240 ₀, . . . , 240 _(N)for display.

The passenger device modules 240 ₀, . . . , 240 _(N) can be configuredto process and/or display data received from the controller module 210.For example the passenger device modules 240 ₀, . . . , 240 _(N) can beconfigured to play movies, music, radio programming, video games, and/orother applications. The controller module 210 can be used to selectwhich application is provided in each of the passenger device modules.In this regard, the passenger device modules 240 ₀, . . . , 240 _(N) canbe configured such that each can provide the same application (e.g.,multiple users can play a single video game) or different applications(e.g., different movies in each module).

Other embodiments of the mobile interactive services system 200 caninclude architectural organizations, such as data and/or control busarchitectures, for example, different from those of the differentembodiments described in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, more than one ofthe modules described in FIG. 2 can be combined into a single module.One or more of the functionalities or operations provided by differentmodules described in FIG. 2 can be shared between different modulesand/or can be combined such that a single module provides thefunctionality or operation. Other embodiments of the mobile interactiveservices system 300 can include one or more modules that can supportadditional mobile interactive satellite services.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of a mobile interactiveservices system 300 that can be configured to provide mobile interactivesatellite services such as mobile interactive navigation services and/ormobile interactive travel assistance services, for example. The mobileinteractive services system 300 can include one or more radio frequency(RF) front-end modules 302 ₀, . . . , 302 _(M), one or more basebandprocessing modules 304 ₀, . . . , 304 _(M), a memory module 306, amultimedia processing module 308, a processing module 312, an interfacemodule 314, a media server module 310, a display module 318, an audiomodule 320, and/or an input/output (I/O) module 322. In someembodiments, the mobile interactive services system 300 can include oneor more passenger device modules 316 ₀, . . . , 316 _(N). The mediaserver module 310 and the passenger device modules 316 ₀, . . . , 316_(N) in FIG. 3 can have, respectively, substantially similarfunctionality as that of the media server module 230 and of thepassenger device modules 240 ₀, . . . , 240 _(N) described in FIG. 2.

The RF front-end modules 302 ₀, . . . , 302 _(M) can be coupled to oneor more antennas, such as the antennas 301 ₀, . . . , 301 _(M), forexample, for transmission and/or reception of RF signals. The mobileinteractive services system 300 can communicate with a hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network through the RF front-endmodules 302 ₀, . . . , 302 _(M) via the antennas 301 ₀, . . . , 301_(M). Each of the antennas 301 ₀, . . . , 301 _(M) can be a singleantenna or multiple antennas, such as antenna arrays, for example. Insome instances, the mobile interactive services system 300 can supportmultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) operations, and other likeoperations that use antenna diversity or smart antenna technology.

The modules or components of the mobile interactive services system 300can be software-based (e.g., set of instructions executable at aprocessor, software code) and/or hardware-based (e.g., circuit system,processor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA)). The RF front-end modules 302 ₀, . . . ,302 _(M), for example, can be configured to process RF signals. In thisregard, an RF front-end module can operate as a transmitter (i.e.,processes signals for wireless transmission) and/or as a receiver (i.e.,processes wirelessly-received signals). An RF front-end module can beconfigured to perform multiple signal processing operations, including,but not limited to, amplification, filtering, analog-to-digitalconversion (ADC), de-modulation, modulation, digital-to-analogconversion (DAC), and/or mixing, for example. Thus, an RF front-endmodule can convert received RF signals to an appropriate basebandfrequency for further processing and/or convert baseband frequencysignals to appropriate RF signals for wireless transmission. An RFfront-end module can process signals according to one or moreterrestrial (e.g., land-based) and/or satellite RF communicationprotocols.

The baseband processing modules 304 ₀, . . . , 304 _(M) can beconfigured to perform digital signal processing operations on datareceived from an RF front-end module, from the processing module 312,and/or from the memory module 306, for example. A baseband processingmodule can communicate processed data to an RF front-end module forwireless transmission or to another module of the mobile interactiveservices system 300 for further processing. In one example, videocontent from a video interactive service can be received and processedby a baseband processing module and can be communicated to themultimedia processing module 308 for further processing. In anotherexample, travel assistance or assistance-related data can be receivedand processed by a baseband processing module and can be communicated tothe processing module 312 for further processing and/or to the memorymodule 306 for storage. A baseband processing module can process dataaccording to one or more terrestrial and/or satellite RF communicationprotocols. Moreover, a baseband processing module can provide feedbackinformation to an RF front-end module based on information that resultsfrom processing data.

The memory module 306 can include a machine-readable storage medium,such as an IC memory, for example, that can be configured to store dataused by the mobile interactive services system 300. In some instances,the stored data can include data related to one or more mobileinteractive satellite services such as navigation services and/or travelassistance services. For example, the memory module 306 can store travelassistance and/or assistance-related data that can include, withoutlimitation, historical trip data, current trip data, navigation dataprovided by a service provider that is related to a previously conductedtrip, navigation data related to a assistance service provider, and/ordata related to multiple assistance service providers for a specifiedassistance category. The memory module 306 can be configured to storeother types of data including, without limitation, data related toterrestrial and/or satellite communication protocols, data related toterrestrial and/or satellite communication activity, video data, audiodata, and/or application data. The memory module 306 can store datareceived from and/or to be communicated to a hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network through the RF front-endmodules 302 ₀, . . . , 302 _(M).

The multimedia processing module 308 can be configured to digitallyprocess multimedia data (e.g., video, audio, and/or content data). Forexample, video data can be decoded and/or encoded at the multimediaprocessing module 308 according to the appropriate video codingstandard. In this regard, the multimedia processing module 308 can beconfigured to support more than one video, audio, and/or content datacoding standard, such as the H.264 standard and/or the MPEG-4 standardfor video coding, for example. In some instances, the processing module312 can provide at least a portion of the multimedia data processingoperations supported by the mobile interactive services system 300. Forexample, the multimedia processing module 308 can be optimized for videodata processing operations and the processing module 312 can be used toprovide audio and/or content data processing operations.

The processing module 312 can be configured to provide operations formobile interactive satellite services, including mobile interactivenavigation services and/or mobile interactive travel assistanceservices. For example, along with providing control operations for themobile interactive services system 300, the processing module 312 canprovide mobile interactive navigation services operations that include,but are not limited to, operations related to the processing, storing,displaying, organizing, selecting, and/or inputting of user data. Inthis regard, the processing module 312 can receive data from a hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network through the RF front-endmodules 302 ₀, . . . , 302 _(M) and the baseband processing modules 304₀, . . . , 304 _(M). Moreover, the processing module 312 can receivedata from the memory module 306, the multimedia processing module 308,the display module 318, media server module 310, the audio module 320,the I/O module 322, and/or the passenger device modules 316 ₀, . . . ,316 _(N).

The interface module 314 can be configured to communicate data betweenmultiple modules and the processing module 312. In some embodiments, theinterface module 314 can support multiple interface busses, protocols,and/or standards, such as the inter-integrated circuit (I²C) bus, theintegrated inter-chip sound (I²S) bus, the serial-peripheral interface(SPI) bus, and/or the universal serial bus (USB), for example. In thisregard, the interface module 314 can use different bus protocols tocommunicate, for example, audio, video, content, and/or graphical databetween the processing module 312 and one or more modules. For example,in mobile interactive travel assistance services, a controller module,such as the controller 210 in FIG. 2, can include the display module318, the audio module 320, and/or the I/O module 322 for providing auser interface (UI) to receive and/or provide travel assistance data. Inthis example, the display module 318 can communicate with the interfacemodule 314 through one interface protocol and the audio module 320through a different interface protocol. Moreover, the I/O module 322 cancommunicate user selection data, such as touch-screen data input orbutton data input, for example, using yet a different interfaceprotocol.

Other embodiments of the mobile interactive services system 300 caninclude architectural organizations, such as data and/or control busarchitectures, for example, different from those of the differentembodiments described in FIG. 3. In other embodiments, more than one ofthe modules described in FIG. 3 can be combined into a single module.One or more of the functionalities or operations provided by differentmodules described in FIG. 3 can be shared between different modulesand/or can be combined such that a single module provides thefunctionality or operation. Other embodiments of the mobile interactiveservices system 300 can include one or more modules that can supportadditional mobile interactive satellite services.

FIGS. 4A-4B are front views of controllers and passenger devices for usewith a hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication network, accordingto embodiments of the invention. FIG. 4A shows a front view of a module400, which can be a controller module or a passenger device module asdescribed in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example. The module 400 can include adisplay screen 404 that can be configured to graphically represent ordisplay data, including data related to mobile interactive satelliteservices such as navigation services and/or travel assistance services,for example. In some embodiments, the display screen 404 can be atouch-screen display, for example, which can be used to enter data, suchas alphanumeric data and/or selection data. The data entered through atouch-screen display can be subsequently processed by a mobileinteractive services system to provide appropriate operations for mobileinteractive satellite services. In some instances, certain operationsand/or selections can be activated by touching an icon or othergraphical or visual representation displayed on the screen. In otherinstances, certain operations and/or selections can be activated bygesturing and/or writing on the touch-screen display.

FIG. 4B depicts a front view of a module 402 that can include thedisplay screen 404. Along with the display screen 404, the module 402can include one or more controls 406 (e.g., buttons) that can be used toenter data, such as alphanumeric data and/or selection data. Forexample, one or more of the controls 406 can be used as soft buttonsthat provide a different set of selection options. In another example,one or more of the controls 406 can be used as hard buttons that providea fixed set of selection options, such as setting the module to an ON orOFF state. The controllers or passenger devices described in FIGS. 4A-4Bcan detect selections made by a user through the user interface providedby the display screen 404 and/or the controls 406.

The modules 400 and 402 can include audio and/or visual components (notshown) that can be used to input and/or output data. In one example, aspeaker (not shown) can be included to provide a user with audionavigation instructions or with audio travel assistance instructions. Inanother example, a microphone (not shown) can be used to provide amobile interactive services system with spoken selections or spokeninput data, such as speaking an assistance category or speaking acurrent location or address. In yet another example, a camera (notshown) can be included to detect user motions, gestures, and/or signalsthat can correspond to a data entry operation.

As described above, controllers in a mobile interactive services systemcan be used to provide a user interface for mobile interactive satelliteservices that can be supported through a network such as the hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network 100. Travel assistanceservices, for example, can use the interactive aspect of the hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network 100 to offer users a widegeographic coverage and a more flexible, effective, and/or feature-richtravel assistance experience.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a navigation map, includingroutine trip data, according to an embodiment of the invention. As shownin FIG. 5, a navigation map 500 can be a graphical representation of ageographic area or region that includes information regarding multiplelocations (e.g., towns, cities, places, landmarks, addresses) and/orroad information (e.g., road identification, road lanes, exitidentification, road intersections and junctions, speed limits). Thegeographic region in the navigation map 500 can correspond to a regionfor which mobile interactive satellite services can be provided. In thisregard, the navigation map 500 can include information that can be usedby a mobile interactive travel assistance service to determine and/orprovide travel assistance instructions and/or other assistance-relateddata.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the navigation map 500 can includemultiple locations S, A, B, C, D, E, and F, multiple road or routesegments, and/or multiple road or route nodes. A route segment can referto a road or to a portion of a road between two route nodes, forexample. As shown, a solid-line route segment can be associated with alarge road, such as a highway, for example, and a dotted-line routesegment can be associated with a local road, such as a back road or arural road, for example. In this regard, a solid-line route segment cangenerally correspond to a route segment in which a driver can travel ata faster speed than when traveling through a dotted-line route segment.For example, local roads tend to have fewer lanes of traffic and havemore traffic lights, both of which may tend to reduce the average travelspeed. A route node can refer to an intersection or junction between twoor more route segments, for example. In some instances (not shown), aroute node can also refer to a location or landmark in a route segmentthat need not be associated with a road intersection or junction.

Within the geographic area described by the navigation map 500, multipledifferent trips can occur. For example, for a trip between location Sand location A, route segments S0, S1, S2, S3, and S4 and nodes N0, N1,N2, and N3 may be traversed. In another example, for a trip betweenlocation S and location B, route segments S0, S1, S2, and S8 and nodesN0, N1, and N2 may be traversed. Traveling between location S andlocation C, for example, may involve traversing route segments S0, S10,S11, S12, and S13 and nodes N0, N5, N6, and N7. In yet another example,traveling between location A and location F may involve traversing routesegments S4, S5, S6, S13, S12, and S16 and nodes N3, N4, location C, N7,and N6.

In some instances, there may be more than one possible route for a tripthat involves going from a first location to a second location. Forexample, a first route for a trip starting at location S and having asdestination location B can include traversing route segments S0, S1, S2,and S8 and nodes N0, N1, and N2. A second route for a trip starting atlocation S and having as destination location B can include traversingroute segments S0, S10, S11, S12, and S9 and nodes N0, N5, N6, and N7,for example. The first and second routes can differ in multiple aspects,including total travel distance, travel time, average travel speed,route segments and/or nodes traversed, travel areas or neighborhoods,ease or comfort in traveling (e.g., highway traffic or local roadtraffic), and/or costs (e.g., tolls), for example.

Differences in routes for a particular trip can result in a user of amobile interactive services system (e.g., a driver or vehicle passenger)having a preference for one route over another route. In this regard,the user may routinely or regularly prefer to travel using a particularroute for trips between specified locations. An example of a regularlyoccurring trip can be going from the user's home to their place of workat the beginning of a work day. Another example of a regularly occurringtrip can be the return trip home at the end of the work day. In thisregard, the user or driver can have a preference for one of multiplepossible routes that may be available when traveling to and from work,for example.

A regularly occurring trip can be referred to as a routine trip and theroute segments traversed during the routine trip can be referred to asroutine route segments, for example. As described above, a mobileinteractive navigation system can be used to collect historical tripdata which can be processed to determine whether a trip occurs with asufficient degree of regularity to be a routine trip. Historical tripinformation that can be processed to determine whether a trip is aroutine trip can include, but need not be limited to, starting anddestination locations, departure time, arrival time, and/or day oftravel (e.g., Monday, weekday, weekend). In some instances, the mobileinteractive navigation system can process the historical trip data whilein other instances the historical trip data can be communicated to aprovider of navigation and/or travel assistance services for processing.In the example shown in FIG. 5, a routine trip 502 can include travelingfrom a location S to a destination at location C. The routine trip 502can include a route that traverses route segments S0, S10, S11, S12, andS12 and nodes N0, N5, N6, and N7. In this example, an “R” can be used tolabel routine route segments associated with the routine trip 502.

In some instances, a user may prefer to use routine route segments whenmaking a trip that is different from the routine trip 502. In theexample shown in FIG. 5, to travel from location S to a destination atlocation B, a user can select between, for example, a first route thatincludes traversing route segments S0, S1, S2, and S8 and route nodesN0, N1, and N2, and a second route that includes traversing routesegments S0, S10, S11, S12, and S9 and route nodes N0, N5, N6, and N7.In this instance, the user or driver may prefer the second route overthe first route because it includes routine route segments S0, S10, S11,and S12 with which the user may be more comfortable and/or familiar, forexample.

Routine route segments can be temporally defined, that is, can beassociated with a specific time of day and/or with specific days. Insome instances, a route segment can be a routine route segment for afirst trip but may not be a routine route segment for a second tripbecause of the time and/or day in which the second trip is occurring.

FIG. 6A is a schematic representation of a navigation map includingdefined areas, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6Adepicts a navigation map 600 that includes the location information androad information described in FIG. 5. Also shown are multiple areas A1,A2, A3, and A4. The areas A1, A2, A3, and A4 can each have a specifiedor defined geographic area, however, they need not have similar areas,shapes, contours, and/or outlines. In other embodiments, the areas canhave different areas, shapes, contours, and/or outlines from thosedescribed in FIG. 6A. Moreover, other embodiments can include adifferent number of areas than the number used in the example in FIG.6A. Each of the locations S, A, B, C, D, E, and F can be located withinone of the areas A1, A2, A3, and A4, for example. For example, locationsS, D, and E can be located within area A1. In another example, locationsC and F can be located within area A3. In some instances, such as when alocation is at a boundary or interface between areas, the location maybe included within more than one of the areas A1, A2, A3, and A4.

A starting area can refer to an area or region in which the startingpoint of a trip is located, for example. Similarly, a destination areacan refer to an area or region in which the destination of a trip islocated, for example. For instance, when traveling from location S tolocation A, a user of a mobile interactive services system can start atlocation S in area A1 and can arrive at location A in area A2. In thisexample, area A1 is the starting area and area A2 is the destinationarea. When traveling between any two locations in the navigation map 600in FIG. 6A, a user or driver may travel from one area to another area ormay travel within one of the areas (i.e., the starting and destinationareas can be the same).

A user of a mobile interactive services system may routinely orregularly prefer to travel to a specific destination area. For example,the user's place of work, preferred supermarket, and preferred shoppingmall may all be located in area A3. A regularly occurring destinationarea can be referred to as a routine destination area, for example. Asdescribed above, a mobile interactive navigation system can be used tocollect historical trip data which can be processed to determine whethera particular destination area occurs with a sufficient degree ofregularity to be a routine destination area.

Destination areas can be temporally defined, that is, can be associatedwith a specific time of day and/or with specific days. In someinstances, a destination area can be a routine destination area for afirst trip but may not be a routine destination area for a second tripbecause of the time and/or day in which the second trip is occurring.

FIG. 6B is a schematic representation of a navigation map includingdynamic destination areas, according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG. 6B depicts a navigation map 650 that includes the locationinformation and road information described in FIGS. 5 and 6A. Also shownare multiple areas B1, B2, and B3, which can each be dynamicallyspecified or defined based on, for example, historical trip data. Forinstance, the area, contour, shape, and/or size of each of the areas B1,B2, and B3 can be adjusted or modified based on statistical informationthat can result from the processing of historical trip data. Areas B1,B2, and B3 can, in some instances, overlap such that a location in thenavigation map 650 can be included in more than one of areas B1, B2, andB3. Moreover, as areas B1, B2, and B3 can dynamically change, whether alocation is included within a specified area can vary over time.

For example, the home of a user of a mobile interactive services systemcan be in location S and the user may take short trips, such as forlocal grocery shopping, for example, to locations D and E. Thus, thegeographic scope of area B1 may be at least partially determined fromhistorical trip data collected from trips between the user's home andlocal shopping at locations D and E. Changes in the user's localshopping habits can result in changes to area B1. In another example,the user's place of work can be in location C. The user may generallystop at locations B and F (e.g., gas station, coffee shop) whentraveling to and/or from work. Thus, the geographic scope of area B3 maybe determined at least partially from historical trip data collectedfrom trips to and/or from work. Changes in the user's travel habits towork (e.g., dropping off and/or picking up a child at daycare nearlocation A) can result in changes to area B1.

As described above, a user of a mobile interactive services system mayroutinely or regularly prefer to travel to a specific destination area.For example, area B3 can be a routine destination area when the usertravels to area B3 as a destination area with a sufficient degree ofregularity. In this regard, the user can have a preference for routesegments located within a routine destination area when making a trip.For example, when traveling from location S in area B1 to location B inareas B2 and B3, the user can select between, for example, a first routethat includes route segments S0, S1, S2, and S8 and route nodes N0, N1,and N2, and a second route that includes route segments S0, S10, S11,S12, and S9 and route nodes N0, N5, N6, and N7. In this instance, theuser can have a preference for the second route because it includes moreroute segments (e.g., S11, S12, and S9) associated with routinedestination area B3 than the first route (e.g., S8).

In some instances, the user's travel preferences, including routineroute segments and/or routine destination areas, for example, can beused to provide and/or adjust travel assistance instructions or dataprovided by a travel assistance service provider. For example, uponrequesting travel assistance (e.g., requesting auto repair assistance,medical care assistance) through a mobile interactive services system, auser may receive navigation data and/or other data related to one ormore assistance providers. The user may select or accept one frommultiple available assistance providers based on, for example,preferences in the routes to and/or from the assistance providers. Forexample, when traveling to receive medical care, a user can prefer amedical care facility for which the route to the facility uses routineroute segments and/or the medical care facility is located in a routinedestination area. In another example, when requesting auto repairservice, a user can prefer an auto repair shop for which an assistancevehicle dispatched by the auto repair shop would use routine routesegments in reaching the place where assistance is desirable and/or theauto repair shop is located in a routine destination area.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of navigation data includinglocation of the assistance request and of multiple assistance providers,according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 depicts a navigationmap 700 that includes the location information, road information, andarea information described in FIG. 6B. Also shown are multipleassistance service providers (e.g., auto repair shops, gas stations,police stations, medical centers) that can be associated with anassistance category. For medical assistance requests, for example, theassistance providers illustrated in FIG. 7 can include police stationsand/or medical centers. In another example, for auto repair assistancethe assistance providers in FIG. 7 can include auto repair shops.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the assistance providers can be locatednear one of the locations S, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For instance, theassistance provider S1 is shown near location S and assistance providersA1 and A2 are shown near location A. Other assistance providers alsoshown in the example in FIG. 7 include B1, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2, E3,F1, and F2. In some instances, one or more assistance providers may berecommended (e.g., highly or positively rated) by acommunity-of-interest (COI) to which the user belongs and/orparticipates. In this example, COI-recommended assistance providers areshown in solid lines and those not recommended by a COI are shown indotted lines. The user can, for example, have a preference to use orselect an assistance provider that is recommended by a COI. Also shownin the navigation map 700 is a location X that can correspond to thelocation of the vehicle or person that requested the assistance. In someinstances, location X can correspond to the current location of thevehicle or person that requested assistance, which can be different fromthe location at which the assistance request took place.

The request for assistance can result from the user's own perception orexperience (e.g., flat tire, ill passenger, low oil light on indashboard) or from an automated event (e.g., vehicle diagnostics systemactivates request for assistance) that engages the mobile interactiveservices system to contact a travel assistance service. In oneembodiment, the travel assistance service can provide the user with datarelated to one or more assistance providers that correspond to thedesired assistance such that the user can select a preferred assistanceprovider. In another embodiment, the travel assistance service canprovide a service center with which the user can communicate to make theassistance request. The service center can subsequently provide the userwith data related to an assistance provider. In some instances, the usermay accept the assistance provider suggested by the service center. Inother instances, the user may prefer a different assistance providerthan the one suggested based on, for example, the user's own priorexperience with the originally suggested assistance provider.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the data related to theassistance providers (e.g., navigation data, name of place, location,scope of services provided) can be graphically represented in the mobileinteractive services system to assist the user in the selection process.In this regard, data related to the assistance providers can begraphically represented to indicate a relative preference betweenmultiple assistance providers based on, for example, travel preferencesand/or COI recommendations.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of navigation data related to themultiple assistance providers, according to an embodiment of theinvention. Shown in FIG. 8 is a travel diagram 800 that includesinformation related to multiple travel or navigation routes betweendifferent assistance providers and location X as described in FIG. 7. Insome embodiments, a mobile interactive services system, such as themobile interactive services systems 200 and 300 in FIGS. 2 and 3,respectively, can be used to collect, process, operate, display, and/orselect data such as the navigation data illustrated in FIG. 8. Thetravel diagram 800 can have data that is based on collected and/orprocessed historical trip data, including route segment information(e.g. routine route segments) and/or travel area information (e.g.,routine destination area). In some embodiments, at least a portion thenavigation data shown in FIG. 8 can be received from a travel assistanceservice through a hybrid satellite/terrestrial mobile communicationnetwork.

The example illustrated by the travel diagram 800 includes a first route802 between location X and assistance provider B1, a second route 804between location X and assistance provider E2, and a third route 806between location X and assistance provider A1. Other examples canillustrate travel routes for a trip between locations X and otherassistance providers different from those shown in FIG. 8. The firstroute 802 can correspond to, for example, a route resulting in the leastamount of travel time and the shortest travel distance. In this regard,assistance can reach location X or can be sought from B1 in the shortestamount of time, for example. The first route 802 can include a portionof route segment S8, which is not a routine route segment (R). In thisexample, the assistance provider B1 is not recommended (e.g., not highlyrated, negative reviews, not covered) by a community or group ofinterest to the user.

The second route 804 can correspond to, for example, a travel routeresulting in the multiple routine route segments being used. The secondroute 804 can include route segments S15, S11, S12, S9, and S8, of whichroute segments S11 and S12 are routine route segments (R). The secondroute 804 can result in the longest travel distance and/or the mosttravel time. In this regard, assistance can reach location X or can besought from B1 in the most amount of time, for example, when compared tothe first route 802 and the third route 806. For the second route 804,the assistance provider E2 is recommended (e.g., highly rated, positivereviews, covered) by a community or group of interest to the user.

The third route 806 can correspond to, for example, a travel route thatcan include route segments S4, S3, and S8, none of which is a routineroute segment (R). The third route 806 can result in neither the longestor shortest travel distance nor the most or least travel time. For thethird route 806, the assistance provider A1 is recommended (e.g., highlyrated, positive reviews, covered) by a community or group of interest tothe user.

In the example illustrated by the travel diagram 800, when determiningan assistance provider, a user of a mobile interactive services systemcan have a preference for, for example, the fastest travel route, theshortest travel route distance, the travel route with the most routineroute segments, the travel route to a routine destination area, and/or acombination of the above. Based on these preferences, the user mayselect the navigation data of one of the assistance providers in thetravel diagram 800. For example, the user can prefer the second route806 because it includes a large number of routine route segments andbecause assistance provider E2 is recommended by a COI. Routine routesegments and positive ratings or reviews may give the user a level ofcomfort, ease, and/or familiarity from previous experiences (e.g.,previous trips) that can overcome, in some instances, the benefits offaster travel times and shorter travel distances provided by the firstroute 802 and the third route 806, respectively.

A user's preferences can be included in the navigation data to and froman assistance provider that is provided by a travel assistance servicethrough a mobile interactive services system. In some embodiments, themobile interactive services system can process the user's preferences togenerate at least a portion of the navigation data illustrated by thetravel diagram 800. In other embodiments, a travel assistance servicecan process the user's preferences and communicate navigation data thatis based on these preferences to the mobile interactive services systemthrough a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network.

The processing of a user's preferences can include providing a weight,ranking, and/or priority to multiple aspects of a trip to and/or from anassistance provider such as, but need not limited to, travel time,travel distance, starting and/or destination location, destination areainformation, route segment information, traffic conditions, time of day,day of travel, and/or COI rating. The weighted aspects of the trip canbe combined to determine a criterion that can be used to select one ofthe assistance providers that are possible for a particular assistancerequest. In one example, the combination can be a linear combinationwhile in another example the combination can be non-linear. In oneembodiment, the criterion can be used to graphically represent arelative preference between multiple assistance providers for userselection.

In another embodiment, at least one criterion can be used by a travelassistance service operated through a mobile interactive services systemto determine a preferred assistance provider. For example, when a userconnects with a service center to obtain travel assistance, the servicecenter operator may provide the user with a preferred assistanceprovider. The navigation data of the preferred assistance provider canbe made available (e.g., graphically represented or displayed on adisplay screen) to the user through a mobile interactive servicessystem. In some embodiments, routine route segments, routine destinationareas, and/or COI ratings or reviews may be given significant weightwhen determining the criterion from which to select an assistanceprovider.

FIG. 9A is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaydata related to assistance providers, according to an embodiment of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 9A, a mobile interactive services system caninclude a controller 900 having a display screen 910. In someembodiments, the controller 900 can include at least a portion of thefunctionality provided by the controller module 210 described in FIG. 2.The display screen 910 can have a first portion 930 and a second portion940. In other embodiments, the display screen 910 can include more orfewer portions than those described in FIG. 9A.

The first portion 930 of the display screen 910 can be used tographically or visually represent information related to, for example, anavigation map 920. In the example shown in FIG. 9A, the navigation map920 can include location information (e.g., towns, cities, addresses,names of places, landmarks) and road information as described in theexamples in FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, and 7. The navigation map 920 can includedata related to assistance providers associated with a particularassistance request such as medical care assistance, for example. Theassistance request can result in an assistance provider search based onthe type of assistance requested. The navigation map 920 can include thelocation X associated with the place where assistance is desirable. Auser or a vehicle diagnostic system, for example, can initiate theassistance request through the controller 900. The second portion 940 ofthe display screen 910 can be used to graphically or visually represent,for example, the relative organization of the assistance providers thatresults from considering the user's travel preferences (e.g., historicaltrip data) and/or community ratings or reviews. In this example, theassistance providers can be listed (e.g., numerical listing) from top tobottom in order of preference. In other embodiments, different graphicalrepresentations of assistance provider preferences can be used that maybe different from those described in FIG. 9A. A user can select any oneassistance provider and need not select the assistance provider with thehighest relative preference. In one embodiment, the display screen 910can be a touch screen, for example, such that a user can select one ofthe assistance providers through the display screen 910. In anotherembodiment, the controller 900 can include buttons that can be used toselect an assistance provider from those graphically represented on thedisplay screen 910.

FIG. 9B is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaynavigation data and other data related to a dispatched assistancevehicle from a selected assistance provider, according to an embodimentof the invention. In the example shown in FIG. 9B, the user has selectedor accepted assistance provider A1 from the multiple assistanceproviders that resulted from the assistance category search. The displayscreen 910 can be used to provide navigation or guidance data and/oradditional data related to the assistance provider A1. In this regard,the display screen 910 can have the first portion 930, a second portion950, and a third portion 960. In other embodiments, the display screen910 can include more or fewer portions than those described in FIG. 9B.

The first portion 930 of the display screen 910 can include graphicallyor visually represented guidance or navigation data to assist the userin tracking an assistance or service vehicle 925 dispatched from theselected assistance provider (i.e., A1 in this example). The secondportion 950 of the display screen 910 can include graphically orvisually represented data related to the assistance provider A1, suchas, for example, an address, a telephone number, an email, a hyperlinkto a website, an estimated time of arrival at location X, and/or a COIrating and/or review of assistance provider A1 when available. In someembodiments, the user can communicate with an operator at the assistanceprovider A1 through the mobile interactive services system. The thirdportion 960 of the display screen 910 can include, for example,multimedia information (e.g., advertisement, offers, commercial logos,audio content) related to the assistance provider A1.

FIG. 9C is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaynavigation data and other data related to a selected assistanceprovider, according to another embodiment of the invention. In theexample shown in FIG. 9C, the display screen 910 can be used to providenavigation or guidance data and/or additional data related to theselected assistance provider (i.e., assistance provider A1 in thisexample) such that the user can travel to the assistance provider. Inthis regard, the display screen 910 can have a first portion 970, thesecond portion 950, and the third portion 960. In other embodiments, thedisplay screen 910 can include more or fewer portions than thosedescribed in FIG. 9C. The first portion 970 of the display screen 910can include graphically or visually represented guidance or navigationdata to assist the user in traveling from a current location X to thelocation of the assistance provider A1. The second portion 950 and thethird portion 960 can be substantially as described in FIG. 9B.

FIG. 10A is a front view of a controller that can graphically displayon-screen operations for contacting a service center, according to anembodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 10A, a mobile interactiveservices system can include a controller 1000 having a display screen1010. In some embodiments, the controller 1000 can include at least aportion of the functionality provided by the controller module 210described in FIG. 2. The display screen 1010 can have a first portion1030 and a second portion 1040. In other embodiments, the display screen1010 can include more or fewer portions than those described in FIG.10A.

The first portion 1030 of the display screen 1010 can be used tographically or visually represent information related to, for example, anavigation map 1020. The navigation map 920 can include data related toassistance providers associated with a particular assistance request andthe location X associated with the place where assistance is desirable.The second portion 1040 of the display screen 1010 can be used as a userinterface to contact a service center that provides travel assistanceservices. In one embodiment, the display screen 1010 can be a touchscreen, for example, such that a user can select a manner ofcommunication with the service center through the display screen 1010.In this example, the second portion 1040 can include a first screen icon1042 to access the service provider through, for example, avoice-over-IP protocol connection. The second portion 1040 can include asecond screen icon 1044 to access the service provider through, forexample, electronic mail. The second portion 1040 can include a thirdscreen icon 1046 to access the service provider through, for example,text messaging. In some embodiments, fewer or more manners ofcommunications between the user and the service center can be providedthrough the controller 1000. In another embodiment, the controller 1000can include buttons that can be used to select a manner of communicationbetween the user and the service center.

FIG. 10B is a front view of a controller that can graphically displaynavigation data and other data related to a dispatched assistancevehicle from a assistance provider offered by the service center,according to an embodiment of the invention. In the example shown inFIG. 10B, the service center provides the user with assistance providerO near location D based on the assistance requested, location X, and/oruser preferences (e.g., historical trip information, COI ratings). Thedisplay screen 1010 can be used to provide navigation or guidance dataand/or additional data related to the assistance provider O. In thisregard, the display screen 1010 can have the first portion 1030, asecond portion 1050, and a third portion 1060. In other embodiments, thedisplay screen 1010 can include more or fewer portions than thosedescribed in FIG. 9B.

The first portion 1030 of the display screen 1010 can includegraphically or visually represented guidance or navigation data toassist the user in tracking an assistance or service vehicle 1025dispatched from the assistance provider that was provided by the servicecenter (i.e., O in this example). The second portion 1050 of the displayscreen 1010 can include graphically or visually represented data relatedto the assistance provider O, such as, for example, an address, atelephone number, an email, a hyperlink to a website, an estimated timeof arrival at location X, and/or a COI rating and/or review ofassistance provider O when available. In some embodiments, the user cancommunicate with an operator at the assistance provider O through themobile interactive services system. The third portion 1060 of thedisplay screen 1010 can include, for example, multimedia information(e.g., advertisement, offers, commercial logos, audio content) relatedto the assistance provider O.

FIG. 10C is a front view of a controller that can graphically displayfeedback data provided to a community-of-interest related to theassistance provider, according to an embodiment of the invention. Asshown in FIG. 10C, after arriving at location X, the assistance orservice vehicle 1025 can provide the appropriate assistance desirable.The display screen 1010 can graphically or visually illustrate thearrival of the assistance or service vehicle 1025 at location X. Forexample, in the first portion 1030 location X is shown as a squareinstead of a circle. The display screen 1010 can have a second portion1070 that can be used to provide a review or rating of the serviceprovided by the assistance provider O. The review or rating can beshared with communities or groups of interest to the user through ahybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network. The feedback of theservice provided by the assistance provider O can be numerical (e.g.,ranking, number of stars) and/or descriptive (e.g., poor, good, aboveaverage).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a method for selecting a travelassistance service provider according to an embodiment of the invention.At 1102, after start 1100, a user can request travel assistance througha mobile interactive satellite service that supports travel assistanceservices. The mobile interactive satellite services can be providedthrough a mobile interactive services system and/or a hybridsatellite/terrestrial communication network. In some instances, thetravel assistance request can result from a vehicle diagnostics system.At 1104, based on the type of assistance that is desirable, a search canbe performed to provide one or more assistance providers. Data relatedto the assistance providers can be communicated to the mobileinteractive services system through the hybrid satellite/terrestrialcommunication network, for example. At 1106, the mobile interactiveservices system can process the assistance provider data to determine atleast one criterion (e.g., organizing assistance providers based ontravel preferences and/or service ratings) to assist the user in theselection process.

At 1108, the mobile interactive services system can graphicallyrepresent and organize the assistance provider data based on thedetermined criterion or criteria. At 1110, the user can select or acceptone of the assistance providers. The mobile interactive services systemcan detect the user selection and process the selection. At 1112, themobile interactive services system can graphically display data relatedto the selected assistance provider (e.g., navigation data to and/orfrom the selected assistance provider, contact information) that can aidthe user in obtaining and/or receiving the desired assistance. After1112, the method can proceed to end 1114.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method for requesting travelassistance information from a service center according to an embodimentof the invention. At 1202, after start 1200, a user can request travelassistance from a service center (e.g., live operator, service centeruser interface) through a mobile interactive satellite service thatsupports travel assistance services. The mobile interactive satelliteservices can be provided through a mobile interactive services systemand/or a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network. In someinstances, the travel assistance request can result from a vehiclediagnostics system. At 1204, based on the type of assistance that isdesirable, a search can be performed to provide an assistance provider.In this regard, when selecting an assistance provider, the travelassistance service can consider the location of where the service is tobe provided, the user travel preferences, and/or ratings of possibleassistance providers, for example. Data related to the assistanceprovider can be communicated from the service center to the user throughthe hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network, for example. At1206, the mobile interactive services system can graphically representor display data related to the assistance provider offered by theservice center.

At 1208, when the type of assistance is such that the user may prefer totravel to the assistance provider (e.g., medical care), the mobileinteractive service system can at 1210 display navigation data to aidthe user in reaching the assistance provider. Back at 1208, when thetype of assistance is such that the user may prefer to have theassistance provider reach the user (e.g., auto breakdown), the mobileinteractive service system can at 1214 display navigation data toprovide tracking of a dispatched service vehicle from the assistanceprovider. At 1212 and 1216, after the service is rendered, the user canprovide a rating or review of the assistance provider to be shared withothers in certain communities or groups with common interests. After1212 and 1216, the method can proceed to end 1218.

In some embodiments, a processor in the mobile interactive servicessystem can be operated to process a travel assistance request forcommunication to a satellite and terrestrial mobile communicationsnetwork. The processor can be operated to process data related tomultiple assistance providers that is received from the satellite andterrestrial mobile communications network in response to the travelassistance request. For example, the processor can process at least onecriterion for an assistance provider based on a distance from a locationof the assistance provider to where the travel assistance is desirableand/or an estimated travel time from the location of the assistanceprovider to where the travel assistance is desirable. The processor canprocess at least one criterion for an assistance provider based onhistorical trip data such as route segment data and destination areadata, for example, and/or a rating or review provided by a COI. Adisplay coupled to the processor can be operated to graphicallyrepresent data related to the assistance providers, such as, one or morecriteria, a telephone number, an address, a website, a hyperlink, amultimedia feed, an email address, and/or estimated travel times, forexample. In some instances, the data related to the assistance providerscan be graphically represented a relative preference between assistanceproviders. An input device coupled to the processor can be operated todetect a selection of one of the assistance providers.

In other embodiments, a processor in a mobile interactive servicessystem can be operated to process a travel assistance request forcommunication to a service center through a satellite and terrestrialmobile communications network. The processor can be operated to receivedata related to an assistance provider from the service center throughthe satellite and terrestrial mobile communication network. An inputdevice, an output device and/or the processor can be collectivelyoperated to communicate with an operator at the service center. Adisplay coupled to the processor can be operated to graphicallyrepresent the data related to the assistance provider, which may includelocation information in a navigation map, a telephone number, anaddress, a website, a hyperlink, a multimedia feed, an email address, anestimated time for the dispatched assistance vehicle to arrive where theassistance is desirable, and/or an estimated time to arrive at thelocation of the assistance provider, for example.

In other embodiments, a processor in a mobile interactive servicessystem can be operated to process a travel assistance request forcommunication to a satellite and terrestrial mobile communicationsnetwork. The processor can process data related to multiple assistanceproviders for graphical representation. The data related to theassistance providers can be received from the satellite and terrestrialmobile communications network in response to the travel assistancerequest. The processor can process a selection of one of the graphicallyrepresented assistance providers.

In other embodiments, a processor in a mobile interactive servicessystem can be operated to process a travel assistance request forcommunication to a service center through a satellite and terrestrialmobile communications network. The processor can receive data related toan assistance provider from the service center through the satellite andterrestrial mobile communication network. The processor can process thedata related to the assistance provider for graphical representation toassist the user.

Conclusion

While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, itshould be understood that they have been presented by way of exampleonly, and not limitation. For example, the mobile interactive servicesdevice described herein can include various combinations and/orsub-combinations of the components and/or features of the differentembodiments described. Although described with reference to use with anMSS/ATC system, it should be understood that the mobile interactivetravel assistance services and the mobile interactive services device,as well as the methods of using the mobile interactive travel assistanceservices and the mobile interactive services device can be used withother wireless network systems.

Embodiments of a mobile interactive travel assistance service can alsobe provided without the mobile interactive services device describedherein. For example, a mobile interactive travel assistance service canbe configured to be used with other suitable controllers, vehicleconsoles, handheld devices, laptop computers, etc., not specificallydescribed herein. Data from a mobile interactive travel assistanceservice can be accessed, processed, displayed, and/or selected in adifferent manner than as illustrated and described herein. A mobileinteractive travel assistance service can also be provided with otherinteractive features and/or services such as, for example, navigationservices.

Some embodiments include a processor and a related processor-readablemedium having instructions or computer code thereon for performingvarious processor-implemented operations. Such processors can beimplemented as hardware modules such as embedded microprocessors,microprocessors as part of a computer system, Application-SpecificIntegrated Circuits (“ASICs”), and Programmable Logic Devices (“PLDs”).Such processors can also be implemented as one or more software modulesin programming languages as Java, C++, C, assembly, a hardwaredescription language, or any other suitable programming language.

A processor according to some embodiments includes media and computercode (also can be referred to as code) specially designed andconstructed for the specific purpose or purposes. Examples ofprocessor-readable media include, but are not limited to: magneticstorage media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape;optical storage media such as Compact Disc/Digital Video Discs(“CD/DVDs”), Compact Disc-Read Only Memories (“CD-ROMs”), andholographic devices; magneto-optical storage media such as opticaldisks, and read-only memory (“ROM”) and random-access memory (“RAM”)devices. Examples of computer code include, but are not limited to,micro-code or micro-instructions, machine instructions, such as producedby a compiler, and files containing higher-level instructions that areexecuted by a computer using an interpreter. For example, an embodimentof the invention may be implemented using Java, C++, or otherobject-oriented programming language and development tools. Additionalexamples of computer code include, but are not limited to, controlsignals, encrypted code, and compressed code.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a processor operable to process a travelassistance request for communication to a satellite and terrestrialmobile communications network, the processor operable to process datarelated to a plurality of assistance providers, the data related to theplurality of assistance providers being received from the satellite andterrestrial mobile communications network in response to the travelassistance request; a display coupled to the processor, the displayoperable to graphically represent the data related to the plurality ofassistance providers; and an input device coupled to the processor, theinput device operable to detect a selection of one of the plurality ofassistance providers.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processoris operable to process a criterion for each of the plurality ofassistance providers based on the data related to the plurality ofassistance providers and historical trip data, the historical trip dataincluding route segment data and destination area data.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to process a criterion forone of the plurality of assistance providers based on one or more of thefollowing: a distance from a location of the one of the plurality ofassistance providers to a current location of a vehicle from whichtravel assistance request originated; and an estimated travel time fromthe location of the one of plurality of service providers to the currentlocation of the vehicle from which the travel assistance requestoriginated.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor isoperable to process a criterion for one of the plurality of assistanceproviders based on a rating provided by a community-of-interest.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the data related to the plurality ofassistance providers includes one or more of the following: a locationin a navigation map of the assistance provider; a telephone number; anaddress; a website; a hyperlink; a multimedia feed; an email address; anestimated time for a service vehicle to arrive to a current location ofa vehicle from which the travel assistance request originated; and anestimated time for the vehicle from which the travel assistance requestoriginated to arrive at the location of the one of the plurality ofassistance providers.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inputdevice includes a touch screen display.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the input device is operable to communicate the travelassistance request to the processor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the processor is operable to communicate with a diagnosticssystem for reception of the travel assistance request.
 9. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a modem coupled to the processor, themodem operable to communicate with the satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunication network.
 10. An apparatus, comprising: a processoroperable to process a travel assistance request for communication to aservice center through a satellite and terrestrial mobile communicationsnetwork, the processor operable to receive data related to a assistanceprovider from the service center through the satellite and terrestrialmobile communication network; and a display coupled to the processor,the display operable to graphically represent the data related to theassistance provider.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprisingan input device and an output device, the input device and the outputdevice being coupled to the processor, the input device, the outputdevice, and the processor collectively operable to communicate with anoperator at the service center.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, furthercomprising an input device and an output device, the input device andthe output device being coupled to the processor, the input device, theoutput device, and the processor collectively operable to communicatewith the assistance provider.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein theprocessor is operable to process data for communication with the servicecenter through the satellite and terrestrial mobile communicationnetwork using voice-over-IP protocol.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein the processor is operable to process data for communication withthe assistance provider through the satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunication network using voice-over-IP protocol.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 10, further comprising a modem coupled to the processor, the modemoperable to communicate with the satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunication network.
 16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the datarelated to the assistance provider includes one or more of thefollowing: a location in a navigation map of the assistance provider; alocation in a navigation map of a dispatched service vehicle; atelephone number; an address; a website; a hyperlink; a multimedia feed;an email address; an estimated time for the dispatched service vehicleto arrive at a current location of a vehicle from which the travelassistance request originated; and an estimated time for the vehiclefrom which the travel assistance request originated to arrive at thelocation of the assistance provider.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10,further comprising an input device coupled to the processor, the inputdevice operable to communicate the travel assistance request to theprocessor.
 18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor isoperable to communicate with a diagnostics system for reception of thetravel assistance request.
 19. A method, comprising: receiving datarelated to a plurality of assistance providers from a satellite andterrestrial mobile communications network upon communication of a travelassistance request to the satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunications network; graphically representing the plurality ofassistance providers based on the data related to the plurality ofassistance providers and a criterion for each of the plurality ofassistance providers; and detecting a selection of one of thegraphically represented plurality of assistance providers.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising determining the criterion for oneof the plurality of assistance providers based on one or more of thefollowing: historical trip data, the historical trip data includingroute segment data and destination area data; a distance from a locationof the one of the plurality of assistance providers to a currentlocation of a vehicle from which the travel assistance requestoriginated; and an estimated travel time from a location of the one ofthe plurality of service providers to the current location of thevehicle from which the travel assistance request originated.
 21. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising communicating with the selectedassistance provider.
 22. The method of claim 19, further comprisingtracking a service vehicle dispatched by the selected assistanceprovider.
 23. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving thetravel assistance request from a vehicle diagnostics system.
 24. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising communicating a rating for theselected assistance provider to a community-of-interest through thesatellite and terrestrial mobile communications network.
 25. A method,comprising: communicating data related to a travel assistance request toa service center through a satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunications network; receiving data related to a assistance providerfrom the service center through the satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunications network; and tracking a service vehicle dispatched fromthe assistance provider.
 26. The method of claim 25, further comprisingcommunicating with an operator at the service center through thesatellite and terrestrial mobile communications network
 27. The methodof claim 25, further comprising communicating with the assistanceprovider through the satellite and terrestrial mobile communicationsnetwork.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the data related to theassistance provider includes one or more of the following: a location ina navigation map of the assistance provider; a location in a navigationmap of the dispatched service vehicle; a telephone number; an address; awebsite; a hyperlink; a multimedia feed; an email address; and anestimated time for the dispatched service vehicle to arrive at a currentlocation of a vehicle from which the travel assistance requestoriginated.
 29. The method of claim 25, further comprising communicatinga rating for the assistance provider to a community-of-interest throughthe satellite and terrestrial mobile communications network.
 30. Anapparatus, comprising: a processor operable to process a travelassistance request for communication to a satellite and terrestrialmobile communications network, the processor operable to process datarelated to a plurality of assistance providers for graphicalrepresentation, the data related to the plurality of assistanceproviders being received from the satellite and terrestrial mobilecommunications network in response to the travel assistance request, theprocessor operable to process a selection of one of the graphicallyrepresented plurality of assistance providers.
 31. An apparatus,comprising: a processor operable to process a travel assistance requestfor communication to a service center through a satellite andterrestrial mobile communications network, the processor operable toreceive data related to a assistance provider from the service centerthrough the satellite and terrestrial mobile communication network, theprocessor operable to process the data related to the assistanceprovider for graphical representation.
 32. A method, comprising:accessing data related to a plurality of assistance providers and acriterion for each of the plurality of assistance providers upondetection of a travel assistance request, the criterion is based onhistorical trip data, the historical trip data including route segmentdata and destination area data; graphically representing the pluralityof assistance providers based on the data related to the plurality ofassistance providers and the criterion for each of the plurality ofassistance providers; and detecting a selection of one of thegraphically represented plurality of assistance providers.